Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human
Rights, other relevant human rights instruments and the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action,

Reiterating the importance of addressing the question of restitution,
compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations
of human rights and fundamental freedoms in a systematic and thorough
way at the national and international levels,

Recalling its resolution 1996/35 of 19 April 1996, in which
it regarded the basic principles and guidelines proposed by the
former Special Rapporteur of the Sub&SHY;Commission on Prevention
of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Mr. Theo van Boven,
as a useful basis for giving priority attention to the question
of restitution, compensation and rehabilitation,

Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary&SHY;General
(E/CN.4/1998/34) submitted in compliance with Commission resolution
1997/29 of 11 April 1997,

Noting with interest the positive experience of countries that
have established policies and adopted legislation on restitution,
compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations
of human rights,

1. Calls once more upon the international community to give
due attention to the right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation
for victims of grave violations of human rights;

2. Requests the Chairman of the Commission to appoint an expert
to prepare a revised version of the basic principles and guidelines
elaborated by Mr. van Boven, taking into account the views and
comments provided by States and intergovernmental and non&SHY;governmental
organizations, and to submit it to the Commission at its fifty&SHY;fifth
session, with a view to its adoption by the General Assembly;

3. Requests the Secretary&SHY;General to invite States that
have not yet done so, as well as intergovernmental and non&SHY;governmental
organizations, to submit their views and comments on the basic
principles and guidelines prepared by Mr. van Boven as soon as
possible, and by no later than 31 October 1998, and to make that
information available to the independent expert;

4. Decides to continue its consideration of this matter at
its fifty&SHY;fifth session under the agenda item entitled "Question
of the human rights of all persons subjected to any form of detention
or imprisonment".